Budget Process Enhancement Act
Budget Process Enhancement Act
Plain Language Summary
# Budget Process Enhancement Act Summary **What It Would Do:** This bill proposes two main changes to how the federal government handles its budget. First, it would withhold paychecks from members of Congress and cancel salaries for certain Office of Management and Budget (OMB) employees if Congress fails to meet specific budget process requirements. Second, it would change how the Congressional Budget Office calculates baseline spending projections by removing certain adjustments for inflation and other factors. **Who It Affects:** The bill directly impacts Congress members and OMB employees.
Indirectly, it could affect all Americans since changes to how budgets are calculated and processed could influence federal spending and fiscal policy decisions. **Current Status:** The bill is currently in committee (HR 113, 119th Congress), meaning it's under review and hasn't yet been brought to a full vote in the House. This is an early stage in the legislative process, and the bill would need to pass committee, the full House, the Senate, and receive presidential approval to become law.
CRS Official Summary
Budget Process Enhancement Act This bill modifies the federal budget process to withhold the salaries of Members of Congress and cancel the salaries of certain employees of the Office of Management and Budget when certain budget process requirements are not met. The bill also changes the assumptions that the Congressional Budget Office uses to calculate its baseline for discretionary spending to eliminate certain adjustments for inflation and other factors. (A baseline is a projection of federal spending and receipts during a fiscal year under current law.)
Latest Action
Referred to the Committee on the Budget, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.